ISL 2020-21 playoffs: Habas confident of ATK Mohun Bagan overcoming NorthEast United FC challenge

By Team Newsable | First Published Mar 6, 2021, 12:09 PM IST

ATK Mohun Bagan managed to finish second in the Indian Super League 2020-21 table, while NorthEast United FC finished at the third spot. ATK was the defending champion before getting merged with Mohun Bagan, as the side has made a fine debut.

Indian Super League giant ATK Mohun Bagan will take on NorthEast United FC in the opening leg of the semis of the 2020-21 edition at the GMC Stadium in Goa on Saturday. While ATK finished second in the table, NEU was placed third.

NEU is featuring in the playoffs for the first time ever and would undoubtedly be under some pressure. However, ATKMB boss Antonio Lopez Habas has warned his side not to take NEU lightly, besides expressing confidence in his boys to overcome the challenge.

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"NorthEast United had an excellent season this year. They are a tough team because they have good players everywhere and they are a balanced team. We also have good players and if we can give our hundred per cent, we can win it," he said during the pre-match press conference.

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Habas did not ponder much on failing to finish atop the table, as it lost its final game to eventual topper Mumbai City FC. "It was a circumstance in football. I have to separate the conclusion from the ISL regular league. The conclusion is Mumbai City finished with 40 points and ATK Mohun Bagan finished with 40 points. So, the difference was in the head to head clashes and not in points," he said.

"Life continues, football continues and we have to only think about positives. We have spent a lot of time without family and now, we have only ten days left, so we have to remain positive. When we finish the league and if we can win the ISL, after that, we will get back to our families," he concluded.

Watch Habas's entire presser here:

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